Just wondering who's working in summer school this year?? Which grade, program, etc. are you teaching or working with? I had my summer orientation this morning and my assignment is a lot different this year!! Last year I worked with one 6th grade boy 1:1 and he needed me to assist him the entire day (5 hrs) until I walked him to his bus...we hardly left the classroom, only to use the bathrooms before/after snack, a little recess at the end before buses. This year, I will be working in TWO sessions. The first session is from 8-10:30 with two high functioning, 2nd grade boys and the second session is from 10:30-1pm and I will be working with 3 boys going into 5th grade. The students will only need help academically and I won't be sitting in the same room for 5 hours which I think I will really enjoy..it'll make the days go by faster! The child I had last year was a sweet boy but he really kept me verrrrry busy because he needed me for everything, which is why it was a 1:1 situation. I'm the type that I can be very flexible and I do like to work with different kids, different classrooms, so I think I am really going to like my assignment this year Can't believe it starts tomorrowhmy:hmy:hmy:
I'm doing ESY. I know I have ABA kids, I'll have 6 total, and I'll have two IA's with me. I don't have any other details yet. Teachers report on Wednesday.
Me! 3rd grade. Approx- 10 kids I think? I'll find out tomorrow. Today was our set up day. Kids start tomorrow.
I start on Monday. I'm doing 1st. I was supposed to be in K, but not enough students signed up so they ended up bumping me up to 1st, which is fine with me. Basically I got all the 1st graders that are coming from my elementary school. I know I have several big behavior problems (why did the teachers sign these kids up for summer school??) so it should be interesting. I have 16 kids. I do have a full time para, which is really nice, but she doesn't normally work in academics so I'm not sure I'll be able to count on her for anything but an extra pair of eyes. During the year she's an attendance clerk at the high school. I begged my para to work with me in the summer, but she says she needs the time off!
I am doing 6th grade math, I will have 14 students. I had work day last Thursday and school starts next Monday.
I'm doing it now. Started on June 9th, next Thursday is the last day. I'm teaching my students from the school + 2 from another school (1 was in my class before so I know him). Originally we were supposed to have 25, a couple never made it, and a few dropped, so now we're done to 18. I teach English, grade 9-12
ESY, 1st-2nd graders. I'm new to the district and just got into the classroom today- completely empty, not a marker to be found! Kids come in on Wednesday but I have LOTS of work to do. I'll have 4 students, 2 full time assistants and OT, PT and Speech will be pushing in and pulling out throughout the day. I shouldn't complain about having so much help but at the same time I feel like I'm going to be managing the adults more than the kids : ). I've always heard that summer school is more relaxed and our schedule is fun but I'm stressing big time. We have some VERY involved...and expectant parents so I'm nervous!
Well, I completed my first week of summer school today and it went great!!!!! So, now I will be enjoying my 3 day weekend Its nice that every weekend will be a 3 day weekend for the month of July Summer school has been fun, the kids are great (K-2nd) and we only have 7 kids in the first session and 5 in the second session. Its so laid back and we have so much fun; academic block, art projects, snack time, fee choice activities and group time on the carpet..its a lot like the Kindergarten class I was in all year, but we have fewer kids! I'm so looking forward to getting my first paycheck next Friday---I need the money so badly! I already paid all my June bills (yay!!!) with my last 2 paychecks from the school year so now I am broke well almost..i have my Panelist job:thumb: so I have money coming in from that but I need my summer school pay for my bills this month and hopefully August.
The district I worked for last year screwed up my pay. They paid my contract out over 11 pays instead of 15 like they told me. They realized this about a week before my 11th pay. So I am not getting paid over the summer and I totally didn't budget for this! (A bit angry with them for this! Angry at myself for not catching it, too.) My new district has offered me summer school. As much as I don't want to, I'm going to do it. It is only 8-1 Mon-Thurs for three weeks. Luckily this will not be an issue next year. I will check my pay on my first pay check. Plus my new district is giving me a $9000 raise. Add that to cheaper rent and a whole lot less gas, I will have about $600 more per month than I'm used to! I should be able to get out of credit card debt in a year and I will be so, so happy!
That's great giraffe!!! $9,000.00 more a year...$600 a month to do what you want with, you are going to feel rich girl And 3 weeks is not bad. We are 8-1:15 for 4 weeks...we have 2 sessions and a half hour break in between which they are paying us to take..they have never paid us to be on a break before or to come in 15 min early (for buses) and stay 15 min late (for buses) so I am actually getting paid more this year because last year we worked right through----5 hours NO BREAK we just ate a snack when the kids did and the teachers took care of bus duty, so this year they are letting us come in/stay for buses and we are getting extra pay from it:thumb: So glad its different this year and we get to leave as soon as the kids are on the bus to go home the last 2 days the bus left by 1:00 (our kids board the buses at 12:50) but we will get paid until 1:15 doesn't seem like a lot but it adds up!!!! Also no health benefits, retirement or union dues are taken out of our summer pay, which is nice too!
The biggest problem with the three weeks is that it butts up to my first week back. So my summer will be over August 4th. As for the $600 a month, it will dig me out of credit card debt. Then I can start saving to buy another house.
I've only taught summer school once and the money was oh-so-good! It was Monday-Friday for five weeks. Teachers worked from 8-12 and the kids attended from 8:15-11:45.
MEEEE! It's a two week program meant to help struggling students (not on IEPs) gain some skills before they start the new school year. It's at the beginning of August, so I'll still have some summer afterwards before I have to officially "go back". Like YoungTeacherGuy's program, I work 8-12 every day during those two weeks. Kids are there from 8:30 - 11:30. I teach the language arts program, and last year I read short stories with the kids. It was fine, but I think this year I'm going to do a short novel so that the kids can say that they read something over summer break!
I start summer school tomorrow! I'm teaching the second session of classes which is from 11:15-2:15, M-F for four weeks. Teaching Algebra 1, and right now it looks like it will be a nice small class! I'm a bit nervous though, never taught summer school that actually "counted" before (just enrichment in the past). Also it will be my first time teaching Algebra 1, but I will be teaching it next year so I consider it a bit of a preview!
Tomorrow is my first day where all staff reports (kid report on Tuesday). Not going to lie... I'm pretty nervous. I'm out of my element teaching this population in the first place (I have rising 3rd-4th graders, all of whom are operating at a Pre-K level)... but due to a lack of IA's, I only have 1.5 IA's, instead of 2. I'm trying my best to stay positive, but it's really hard right now. Mostly I honestly don't know even what to do with kids this low to keep them engaged.
I am teaching Resource to the juniors who are taking college classes until the end of July. We teach important soft skills. It is 28 hours a week so it really doesn't feel like summer has started since there was no days between summer school and the end of the school year. Oh well. I have a wedding to pay for so this helps!
Doing ESY. 18-21 year olds. It's ok. we are done at the end of the month. I get paid year round so these hours are just added on to my paycheck.
I have 2 more days of summer school - this is our 5th week. It went pretty well, we did everything I planned to do, didn't have to change anything. Very minor behavioral issues, it was definitely worth it. I can go in for 2 days next week to finalize grades, I think I will, since they're willing to pay, this way I won't have to stress about grading this week. Then I will have 6 days training at the end of the July for which I signed up for (one Common core and one Kagan) it will be great, since I'll be getting my regular daily rate. It kinda cuts onto my relaxation, but I will be very happy with August's paycheck.
That sounds great!!!!!!!! And extra pay is always good that's why I like summer school..and workshops & training pay well to. I wish we were given more, I am only given one mandatory (as a Para) that we do after school starts and I get paid I am in my 2nd week (out of 4) of summer school and I am really enjoying it. I work with some really sweet kids K-3rd. Having the 2 sessions and a 30 min break built in for staff is really a great schedule...better for me than last year. We had to work the 5 1/2 hour day right through with no break! We ate at noon with the kids and left at 1:30! This year my first session is over at 10:30, kids board the bus at 10:15 and then I am given a half hour break to do whatever and go where ever I want and we are paid for it!!!!! That still blows my mind bcuz Paras usually don't get that...they even made sure last week our time sheets reflected that our breaks were included. And when our 2nd shift starts at 11:00 the kids unpack, have their snack as soon as they come in (and a story during snack) and then a bathroom break so we really don't start until almost 12:00 so its just been flying by!!!!!! LOVING IT! First paycheck is Friday..can't wait
I'm only starting day 3 tomorrow and I'm already burnt out on summer school! Let me just complain for a minute: -I'm using four different programs that are completely new to me. I'm expected to pretty much use these programs as the only resources for instruction. Planning is taking FOREVER. I already spent 90 minutes outside of my "contract time" at school today, and I only have reading planned for just tomorrow. I'm currently procrastinating on planning math. I'm usually a very efficient planner- I don't spend near this amount of time planning during the regular year! -My para is really obnoxious. She basically just stands around all day, and constantly wanders out of the room, and when she does contribute it's to make an obnoxious comment. I want my school year para back! -I have tons of behavior problems. The class as a whole was really bad on day 1- no "honeymoon" period even! I literally had to take away numerous recess minutes on the first day! Out of 17, I have maybe two kids that will semi-work independently, which is rough because we're supposed to be doing small groups all day and my para is no help with managing the kids that aren't with me. - We were told we'd get an hour of paid planning per day, but this is split into 30 minutes before school and 30 minutes after. Kids are allowed to come in 20 minutes before school starts, so this isn't really planning time for me. After school, I have to wait for them all to be picked up, so I end up with 15 minutes of "planning" if I'm lucky. This also means that I have four straight hours with my kids! I think I am just feeling whiny because I've done summer school for the past four years and every other year it's literally been a cake walk. Before this I don't think I've ever spent any time at all outside of "contract time" working during summer school, and I've always had really small classes with well-behaved students. I count on it pretty much still being a "break" with the reduced hours/stress level, but I swear I'm working harder than I do during the school year this year! I made my kids practice procedures about a million times today so hopefully tomorrow will be better. I'm also hoping I figure out how to plan these lessons quicker!
I'm filling in for the very last week of summer school next week! Our summer school classes are 100% online, so I don't have to give direct instruction. I'm just there to help them if they get stuck with an assignment or a test.
Online..that sounds so amazing Waterall..sound like you are having a heck of a time As much as I am enjoying it this year, I am hoping with proper budgeting (summer savings program) I will save enough from each paycheck to NOT have to work summer school next year!!!!!
Well, I am happy to report that making them practice the procedures a million times seemed to help. They're doing a lot better. The "principal" for summer school asked today if she could pull my para because "my class runs so smoothly." Ha! They automatically put paras in K-2, but she said 4th grade is a brand new teacher and it's basically a disaster, and she wants extra hands there. Given that she doesn't help 90% of the time anyway, I said that was fine. I honestly think it might make me less stressed to not have her in there and just manage the class myself anyway. Today during the entire 90 minute math block she kept going to stand by the window about 20 feet away from any of the kids. I had to keep telling her to please walk around and help the kids that were raising their hands, and 2 minutes later she was back standing by the window... at least tomorrow is Friday!
I hope your situation improves....maybe her not being there will!!! I have seen Paras like that, stand around drinking coffee and talking..i am NOT like that!!! I am there for the kids Well, I have 2 weeks left! ToMorrow is Monday and we have 8 days left of Summer School then I have the NEXT 5 WEEKS OFF!!!! I can't wait..but then again once we get into the last 5 weeks I am afraid the 2nd half of summer will fly by and we will be back in school full time----I just won't be ready for that! I am just going to enjoy getting out early 4 days a week and Fridays off for now...3 day weekends have been fun
Quick summer school vent... I'm assigned to a classroom with kiddos that are severely autistic. I'm out of my comfort zone (by far), but I'm making it work, and I have a great IA with me all the time, and another pretty good IA with me half the time. I think that, overall, I'm doing a good job with these kids... and lord knows I'm getting a new appreciation for teachers that work with this population during the school year. I absolutely could not do so. Well anyway, on Friday, they ask the staff there who's trained in Language. I tell them I am (laughing to myself as I do it, because saying that none of my kids are at that level would be a pretty epic understatement). So imagine my surprise when after school, they come see me, and say that for 45 minutes a day, they want me to do the Language program with a little girl. They'd send an extra IA in my room, and it's during a part of the day where my IAs can keep things rolling just fine without me. It's kind of an inconvenience, and adds an extra level of planning... but I agree. Not happily, necessarily, but I agree. If nothing else, it gives me 45 minutes with a student I'm more used to working with. So then, after I agree, after I get the materials, after details are worked out, etc., they spring on me... Oh, by the way, there are attorneys involved in this case and mom is suing the district because she isn't happy with services. The child was supposed to be present for the entire ESY program, and mom is now demanding that the child receive only the Language program. So... yeah. Lovely detail to find out after I've said I would do it. Apparently the child herself is as sweet as can be, but parents... not quite as sweet. Not going to lie... I'm definitely nervous now. I haven't implemented Language since 2012, and I've never implemented it to full fidelity. But if what I do could end up being subpoenaed... and if I could end up getting subpoenaed... I'll definitely be doing every single work in the teacher's manual, exactly as written.
Also, despite being the only one on my team that is not an active SPED teacher during the school year, and despite being the only one not to work with autistic students required ABA support... I'm the one who is serving as team leader. Sigh...
Ohh Lord, that's craaaaazy! Hopefully it won't be much longer. We are in our 3rd week (out of 4) other progams go longer though. I am with a mixed group of children in my second session..Downs Syndrome (two Kinders - VERY CUTE!) and 4 other students with Autism (1st & 2nd) we have 5 Paras plus the Teacher who is a Para during the school year..she can't find a Teaching position!!!!! I am working as a Sped Para for the past 2 years, so I see it all pretty much! Good luck to you
Well, not having the para there is not bothering me at all. I have 2 kids that are not accomplishing anything during independent time, but they weren't doing anything more when I had an extra person there either! Subct, I know what you mean. I have a para during the year and she is beyond fabulous, so my expectations are probably a little high to begin with since I am used to her. I begged her to come work with me this summer but she said she needs her summers off! Gr3, when I went to Language training they said it had to be done for a minimum of 60 minutes a day to be implemented with "fidelity"- just fyi since this is a legal case! With only one student, you'll be able to get through the activities much faster and 45 is probably totally fine, but I might be worried about doing everything to the absolute letter if the parents are suing. I've never done it with "fidelity" either because we simply don't have that much time. I did use it with one group this year. The good thing is it requires absolutely no planning or setup if you follow it as written (which it sounds like you should in this case) so it shouldn't create more work for you.
I am loving my 3 day weekend:thumb: Next week will be my last week in summer school..the last 4 days! I can not believe how quickly it went by. I think having two sessions (2.5 hours each) has made a huge difference this year. Last year was 5 1/2 hours in one room with one child, so this was so much better....different kids, different rooms, a 30 min break..it really broke up my day!! It made the days just fly by and now this is our last week..still can't believe it. I don't plan on doing much the next 5 weeks...just relaxing and enjoying my freedom. Ohhh i can't wait. I will miss the summer pay checks though
Tomorrow is Wednesday, and then Thursday is my last day of Summer School!!! Thursday we are doing popcorn and a movie for both sessions...easy peasy! I am so looking forward to not having to get up at 6am and go to work. I loved the 4 extra paychecks but I am reallllllly glad its our last week and that it went so quickly! Already making plans with mom for next week; lunch, shopping, etc. and a friend for dinner Just need to get through the next 2 days!!
Yay to be almost done! I'm dreading starting. August 4-21, so only 3 weeks. Then I only work one day of the next week. Then school starts. I would be more eager to do it if it was in June or even July. I just don't like spending the last few weeks in school....
That's how our schedule is this year and I really dislike it. In the past I've taught summer school at the beginning of the summer and then had some time off before school started. This year I will have four days off from the end of summer school to the regular year starting for teachers. Apparently they always do it at the end of the summer. I still have a week and a half left. I'm still finding it to be pretty stressful with all of the behaviors in my class. I swear I have never seen so much ADHD in one place! I am still glad I did it for the extra money though. This will pay for my last semester of grad school.
WOW! I didn't know that some states have summer school taking place so late in the summer. I assumed, for the most part summer programs ran the first 2 - 4 weeks after school lets out, at least that's how it is here in my district in CT! My program is 4 weeks but we do have a program (for students with Autism) that goes an additional 2 weeks so they don't get out until 2nd week in August..if you need the money I can see where that could be a good thing..but then you are working almost the entire summer and that's tough. I know for me I prefer the 4 weeks and then having a month off before school starts....I have a feeling its going to go by quickly though!!
I'm only doing it this summer because I ended up not getting paid for the summer. Next year, unless something unexpected happens, I will likely pass. If summer school was earlier in the summer, I'd probably do it for the extra money. But I'm pretty bummed about giving up August! Plus I want to get started on my classroom, but I have to focus on summer school.
I agree with that..for the extra money its great and I needed it...having it in the beginning fo the summer when school lets out in June is so much easier and just better all the way around. I would have passed if it was at the end of summer, probably would have had to get another job though, so it worked out for me..but I do agree with how you feel. Next year I am doing the summer savings thing at the credit union...just un case I don't get summer school or I don't want to work it. Last day tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our district no longer funds summer school for elementary/middle school. I think it is a shame - summer school was a great threat to hold over certain kids who could learn but didn't want to go along with the program, and it was a great resource for those students who needed more support.
